The government will now take over the running of the Kenyatta University Teaching and Referral Hospital (KUTRH) from the tertiary institution.
According to a presidential order dated January 22, the Ksh8 billion facility will be managed as a State corporation under the Health ministry.
The parastatal will have a CEO as well as a management board comprising among others, a non-executive chairperson appointed by the President, Principal Secretaries from Treasury, Health and Education ministries, the Attorney-General, KU Vice-Chancellor, KU College of Health Sciences principal, the Director of Medical Services and a representative of the Kenyatta University Council.
KUTRH now joins the league of Kenyatta National Hospital and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in offering specialised treatment.
The state-of-art 600-bed facility has special medical amenities, including a 21-bed Intensive Care Unit, eight operating rooms, an emergency room, dialysis unit and the latest in imaging equipment.
Its construction contract was awarded to China Jiangxi Corporation for International Economic and Technical Cooperation (CJIC), at a contract price of Ksh8 billion borrowed from the Exim Bank of China.
Despite its completion, it had been lying idle for two years due to wrangles over its leadership.
Kenyatta University wanted to be its sole manager while the Ministry of Health wanted to run it.
Despite the laudable foresight in conceptualising the hospital, the university and the ministry concerned failed to plan for the dry run and soft budget.
The National Assembly Health Committee committee stated that the original plan shifted to a public-private partnership (PPP) model after Treasury declined to commit funds, citing fiscal challenges.
